Cayo Coco, Cuba. Foto: Maxos Dim on Pixabay

Russia become very important for Cuba reopening specially in this winter season.

Cuba has opened four more destinations, including Havana, to Russian airlines.

Cuba had been formally closed to most world travelers due to COVID-19, and flights from Russia had been limited to just two tourist destinations.

After officially reopened its borders on Monday, November 15th, the country lifted most of the restrictions.

“We are very happy that this decision was made. In fact, we have the pandemic almost under control. About 90% of the population will be immunized with our own vaccines. So, from a health point of view, we will be a very safe country,” Juan Carlos Escalona, adviser for Tourism at the Cuban embassy in Moscow, said in a statement according to Prensa Latina.

Popular and more isolated leisure destinations Varadero and Cayo Coco reopened to Russian charter operators in April this year with a flight from Azur Air.

Meanwhile, the new bilateral decision means that Russian airlines will once more be allowed to fly to the capital of Havana, as well as Santa Clara, Camagüey, and Holguín.

Russian Airlines Return To Four Cuban Cities.

Arrivals will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test.

Upon arrival, travelers will need to present vaccination certificates or a negative PCR-test result no older than 72 hours before the flight’s departure. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from any such requirements, and no further tests are needed once in Cuba.

Cuba has decided to develop its own vaccines. It is currently in talks with the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency authorization to be able to sell its vaccines via the organization. Daily new cases in Cuba have dropped from a high of over 9.000 in August, to about 250 in mid-November.